Establish principled approach to address facilities crisis for years to come
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson today announced a vision to transform Hamilton County’s school facilities for a generation to come. The two created a working group shortly after Mayor Wamp took office to perform an in-depth review of the facilities in our public schools, and less than a year into his inaugural term in office, Mayor Wamp is releasing a set of recommendations addressing both urgent and long-term needs.
“The collaboration of this working group resulted in a bold vision that will modernize school facilities across Hamilton County and improve the educational experience of every affected student and parent,” said Mayor Wamp. “For too long, the county has avoided making these tough decisions, leaving us with many aging and underutilized school facilities. If adopted, these recommendations would represent one of the boldest commitments to education in the history of Hamilton County, and would provide a principled roadmap for further investments in the future.”
The recommendations include examining more cost-effective construction processes, analyzing how the county can maximize current facilities and explore adaptive reuse of existing structures. The report is twofold; first, it maps out a vision for the next three years with recommended renovations, expansions, and replacements to schools across the district. The second phase, years 4-7, includes a consistent approach to continued modernization of facilities and planning for growth.
“For many years, Hamilton County Schools has faced a facilities crisis. With a backlog of more than $1 billion in needed school maintenance and improvements, addressing this problem can no longer be left for future leaders to handle. The recommendations we are making today represent bold first steps toward providing all of our students and staff with learning environments that are safe, efficient, and welcoming. The confidence instilled in students who attend modern and dignified schools cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Robertson. “Bold actions can sometimes be difficult, but we are committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to accomplish what is best for kids and the community. We will do this through frank and honest discussions, open-minded listening, and focused collaboration. I look forward to our next steps as we work together to create the opportunities for all Hamilton County children to thrive and experience a future without limits.”
Mayor Wamp and Superintendent Roberston will gather community feedback in the coming months, and in the fall, Mayor Wamp will release a plan for funding the projects in the first three years. The Hamilton County Commission and School Board will play a vital role in putting these plans into action and ultimately voting to approve and secure financing.
